BEARPARK PARISH COUNCIL At a meeting of Bearpark Parish Council held on Wednesday 20 June 2018 at 7.00 p.m. Present: Councillor M Wright in the Chair. Councillors G Hendry, R Kemp, J Peart and M Wilson Also Present County Councillor D Bell. 18/18 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Councillors N Anderson, M Chard, O Edwards and E Hull. 18/19 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest in relation to any items of business on the agenda. 18/20 REPRESENTATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC There were no representations from the Public. 18/21 POLICE REPORT Councillor M Wilson provided the Council with an update report from the Police and issues raised at a recent Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting. 18/22 COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT County Councillor D Bell provided a general update, as follows: The County Durham Plan preferred options report had been presented to the Council’s Cabinet. A consultation would run from 22 June 2018 to 3 August at various locations across the County. A session would be held at Bearpark Community Centre on Tuesday 10 July from 3-7pm. The final stages of universal credit had been completed in County Durham with Chester-le-Street, Durham and Newton Aycliffe coming online from 20 June. The full service would replace new claims across the county for means tested benefits for the majority of people of working age. Areas included income support, income-based job seekers allowance, housing benefit, working tax credits and child tax credits. Durham Federation was to become a Centre of Excellence. Changes would see those studying vocational qualifications such as hospitality, catering and hair and beauty at Sacriston (Fyndoune) site. The Ushaw Moor site would focus on academic courses. It was hoped that the changes would help provided students with the highest quality of teaching and learning and help them enable to secure the skills and qualifications needed to access their goals of the future. Councillor M Wilson provided an update on local issues, as follows: The next meeting of the Beaurepaire Dream Community Foundation Project would take place at Bearpark Community Centre on Thursday 21 July from 7pm to 9pm. The Charity were looking for people from the community to share information about the site including memories, artefacts, objects, pictures, films etc; Councillor M Wilson had walked ‘hot-spot’ dog fouling areas with the Council’s Clean and Green Team and identified locations for the application of dog fouling stencils. The exercise was being piloted in a number of villages. No further information was available regarding the posters; Further complaints from residents been received regarding the ‘mushroom’ youth shelter area near to Whitehouse Woods. Complaints had been received regarding the amount of broken glass, rubbish and bottles in the area. The parish council had previously made representations to have the structure removed (around 2 years ago), which Durham County Council were amenable to. They had offered to remove the equipment and reinstate the grassed area. However, the Police had expressed a desire to retain the structure as it was easier to identify youths in the area rather than disperse them to different areas of the village. Local residents felt that structure had nothing to offer other than causing a nuisance and was barely used by local youths. Councillor Wilson would be raising the issue with Durham County Council; Councillor M Wilson had been gathering views regarding a sculpture or some form of memorial to commemorate the mining heritage of the village. There had been a lot of local interest with many ideas coming forward. Various locations and types of memorial had been discussed. 18/23 MINUTES The minutes of the meetings held on 18 May 2018 were Moved by Councillor M Wilson, Seconded by Councillor J Peart and agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair. 18/24 PARISH COUNCIL COOPTION The Chair welcomed Mrs Gerry Hendry to the meeting. Mrs Hendry provided the Council with a brief resume of her skills and experience and the reasons as to why she wished to re-join the parish council, having served as a Councillor previously from 2013 to 2017. Moved by Councillor M Wilson, Seconded by Councillor R Kemp Resolved That Mrs Gerry Hendry be coopted as a Councillor on Bearpark Parish Council. Councillor Hendry then signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office form which was countersigned by the Clerk to the Council. 18/25 REQUESTS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE The Chair welcomed representatives from Bearpark School and Community Group and Bearpark Pride to the meeting. (i) Bearpark School and Community Group The spokesperson for the group thanked the Council for the opportunity to attend the meeting to explain briefly about the formation of the group, its aims and objectives. The group had met with a representative of Durham Area Action Partnership who had been assisting them with their formation, ensuring they had the correct documents and procedures in place to formally operate. The group wanted to do their very best for Bearpark Primary School. The group had made a request for £250 which would be used towards the organisation of a Superheroes and Fairy tales Fun Day taking place at Bearpark Workingmens Club on Saturday 11 August 2018. The event was open to all the community and all proceeds would be diverted towards the school to assist with school trips and activities. Resolved That the Council offer a donation of £250, to be formally presented at the next meeting of the Council taking place on 18 July 2018. (ii) Bearpark Pride The Parish Council had been provided with information previously regarding the village pride book. The spokesperson thanked the Parish Council for the opportunity to attend the meeting to explain further details regarding the project. The project had generated lots of local support. A local raffle was held and raised £150 and the group had sold 280 books. The books contained lots of pictures of local interest, from the Colliery and school days. Resolved That the Council purchase five books, priced at £5.00 each as well as making a donation of £25. 18/26 FINANCE REPORT The Council considered the monthly financial report which detailed the current bank balances, payments made since the last meeting and payments to be made. Payments Cheque Supplier Description Amount N/A Coop Bank Service Charge 5.00 N/A Coop Bank Commission 1.20 100623 DERIC Project Donation – Youth Project 474.00 100624 Village Pride Books 50.00 100625 HMRC PAYE (Period 3) 100.91 100626 M Turnbull Clerks Salary (June) 403.62 100627 ICO Registration Fee 40.00 100628 Nat. Allotment Association Subscription 66.00 100629 AA Garden and Landscaping Grasscutting/Weeding 360.00 100630 Academy Schoolwear Limited Hi-Vis Vests 94.64 18/27 PLANNING APPLICATIONS There were no applications for consideration. Arrangements were being made to meet with Taylor Wimpey over the coming weeks. 18/28 EVENTS WORKING GROUP UPDATE The Clerk informed the Council that no working group meetings had taken place, with arrangements for the village fair being almost complete. All risk assessments had been completed and all relevant documentation sent to Durham County Council. The application for the use of the land had also been made. Resolved That the update be noted. 18/29 REPORT OF THE CLERK The Clerk provided the Council with an update on progress regarding GDPR and correspondence received from the County Durham Association of Local Councils. The Clerk thanked those Councillors involved in the litter pick undertaken with Busy Bears Nursery. The nursery had thanked the parish council for their help in organising the event. It was hoped to be able to undertake further joint working in the future. Resolved That the report be noted. 18/30 VILLAGE MATTERS Overgrown shrubs and weeds on footpath Councillor Wright asked if representations could be made to Durham County Council regarding the growth of weeds and shrubs which was restricting various footpaths from Toll House Road through to Bearpark. Resolved That the Clerk and Councillor M Wilson raise the issue with Durham County Council Clean and Green Team. Traffic Calming towards the bridge Concerns had been expressed regarding the speed of vehicles as they approach Aldin Grange Bridge from Bearpark and queried whether there were any forms of traffic calming that could be investigated. Resolved That Councillor M Wilson note the concerns and raise the issue with Durham County Council Highways Officers. 18/31 DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING A Special meeting would take place on The next ordinary meeting of the Parish Council would take place on Wednesday 18 July 2018 at 7.00 p.m. The meeting closed at 8.30 p.m. .